History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II, Part 1

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 958

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HISTORY

Kane County, Ill.

By R. WAITE JOSLYN, L. L. M., and FRANK W. JOSLYN, Ex-State's Attorney of Kane County.

VOLUME II.

ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS AND VIEWS

CHICAGO THE PIONEER PUBLISHING CO.

1908

977.323 1 78 h V. 2

Sher. Hist Suer.

BIOGRAPHICAL

WILLIAM GEORGE.

William George, a capitalist of Aurora, forceful and resourceful and strong in his ability to plan and to perform, was born in Sugar Grove, Kane county, Illinois, September 23, 1861. His paternal grandfather was Eben- ezer George, a native of Keene, New Hampshire, and a son of a soldier of the Revolution. Hon. Alonzo George, father of William George, was for many years one of the most prominent and honored residents of Aurora. He was born at Strafford, Vermont. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Lydia May, was a daughter of Colonel Elisha May, of Fairlee, Vermont.

Excellent educational opportunities were afforded William George, who pursued his preliminary studies in the West Aurora schools, mastering the branches of consecutive grades until he became a high school student in West Aurora and was graduated there with the class of 1879. He afterward matriculated in the state university of Iowa at Iowa City and upon the com- pletion of his course there he became a student in the Union College of Law at Chicago and was graduated with honor in the class of 1885 and admitted to the bar of Illinois. Returning to Aurora, Mr. George put his theoretical training to the practical test in the law office of Hopkins, Aldrich & Thatcher, where he remained until October. 1887. He then entered upon an indepen- dent professional career, continuing alone in practice until the Ist of Janu- ary, 1894, when he formed a partnership with F. D. Winslow, which con- tinued until September 16, 1895. In that year the law firm of Hopkins, Aldrich & Thatcher was dissolved and Nathan J. Aldrich joined Winslow & George as senior partner of the firm of Aldrich, Winslow & George. Later Mr. George retired from that firm. His business has been of a most impor- tant character, especially in the line of corporation law, but outside business interests have in recent years largely claimed the attention of Mr. George, precluding to some extent his active participation in his chosen profession.

KANE COUNTY HISTORY

He is a man of resourceful ability, who has not only successfully controlled a single line of activity but has displayed that power of adjustment and even balance which has enabled him to capably manage varied interests. He seems to possess an almost intuitive perception as to the value of a business situa- tion and his judgment in commercial and financial matters is rarely, if ever. at fault. In 1892 he largely assumed the management of the Old Second National Bank in the capacity of vice president, and upon the death of his father. AAlonzo George, in 1895, he succeeded to the presidency and has since been at the head of this institution. The bank is one of the strongest financial concerns in this part of the state, with a large clientage and extensive con- nections. A general banking business is carried on and in the control of the house Mr. George manifests keen discrimination as well as the power of executive control. Many other business interests which have had direct bear- ing upon the upbuilding and welfare of this part of the state have received the benefit of his cooperation and direction. He is a director of the Aurora Cotton Mills, and many of Aurora's manufacturing institutions. He is also prominently known as an importer and breeder of Hereford and other cattle and his landed possessions comprise about fifteen hundred acres of valuable farm lands in the vicinity of Aurora. His investments have been judiciously placed and from them he derives a substantial annual revenue.

On the 11th of October, 1887, occurred the marriage of Mr. George and Miss Alice Maude Lounsbury, a daughter of the Rev. E. W. Lounsbury, 1). D., and Alice ( Carson) Lounsbury, of Jordan, New York. They have two children : Alice May, fifteen years of age; and Elizabeth Marcia, four years of age.

Mr. George gives his political allegiance to the republican party on questions of national importance but is a representative of the independent movement which is one of the hopeful signs of the times, showing that busi- ness men and those who are forceful factors in the community are alive to the political situation and are no longer content to accept machine-made poli- tics but feel free to exercise their right of franchise as their judgment dic- tates. That Mr. George is keenly interested in the subject of cattle breeding and is recognized as one of the prominent authorities on the subject is indi- cated in the fact that he was honored with the presidency of the American Hereford Cattle Breeders' Association. He was also at one time president of the Illinois Bankers' Association ; is now a member of the executive com- mittee of the American Bankers' Association and formerly its vice president for illinois. He is national treasurer of the Yeomen of America. While his advantages at the outset of his career were perhaps superior to those which fall to the lot of the majority of boys, he has always worthily used the talents entrusted to him and has made steady progress in lines that have proved beneficial to the community at large. His life has been so varied in its activity, so honorable in its purposes and so far-reaching in its effects as to become an integral part of the history of Aurora and northern Illinois. While a successful business man, he looks at life from a broad and liberal standpoint and is one in whom business enterprise and humanitarianism are well balanced forces.

lange

Alonzo

KANE COUNTY HISTORY

ALBERT L. HALL.

Albert L. Hall, editor and general manager of the Elgin Daily and Weekly Courier of Elgin, has for fifteen years been identified with newspaper interests in this section of Illinois. A native son of Kane county, his life record began upon a farm about six miles south of Elgin, December 28, 1870. His paternal grandfather, Wesley Hall, removed to Illinois from Churchville, Ontario, Canada, in 1839, and established his home upon a farm in St. Charles township. He was accompanied by his family, including Gustavus Hall, who was reared amid the scenes and environments of pioneer life and eventually began farming on his own account in this locality. For many years he was closely and prominently associated with agricultural interests but was called to his final rest in 1901. His widow survives and now resides at Santa Paula, California. The sons and daughters of this family are: Frank, a resident of Ventura, California; Edwin, living in Elgin; Mrs. H. C. Blanchard and Mrs. James Whalen. of Santa Paula, California ; and Albert L .. who is the youngest.

The last named spent his boyhood days upon the home farm to the age of twelve years, when he accompanied his parents upon their removal to Elgin, the family home being established on Highland avenue. There he continued his education in the public schools until 1889, when he put aside his text-books to become a factor in business circles. He was first employed as a clerk in a drug store at Hampshire, Kane county, where he remained for three years. Since that time, however, his attention has been given to jour- nalistic interests. He made his first venture in the newspaper field at Leland, La Salle county, Illinois, in 1893, and when he had spent two years at that place he purchased the Gazette at Earlville, Illinois, six miles west of Leland, both towns being on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road. The two papers were then consolidated and published under the name of the La Salle County Gazette-Express. In 1896 Mr. Hall was joined by M. L. Griffith, a well known newspaper man of long experience, who became an equal partner in the business, and the firm of Hall & Griffith maintained a continuous existence until 1899. when Mr. Hall sold his interest to his partner and returned to Kane county.

Settling in St. Charles, he acquired the St. Charles Chronicle by pur- chase from John F. Dewey, then circuit clerk of Kane county, and remained as its publisher until January 1. 1903, when he sold the paper and again became a resident of Elgin. In January of that year the Courier Publishing Company was organized and the business and plant of the Elgin Daily and Weekly Courier was purchased. Mr. Hall was elected editor and general manager and has since continued in that position. The success of the Courier has become a feature in the newspaper history of Kane county. It is now recognized as an excellent advertising medium because of its large circulation and the business of the company has been carefully systematized, so that substantial financial results are obtained.

On the 18th of August, 1897, Mr. Hall was married to Miss Frances Rice, of Mediapolis, Iowa, and to them has been born a daughter. Harriet.

KANE COUNTY HISTORY

The family residence is at No. 119 Tennyson court and Mr. and Mrs. Hall hold membership with the First Methodist Episcopal church of this city, in the work of which he is deeply and helpfully interested. He is also serving as a member of the board of directors of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation and as a trustee of the Elgin Old People's Home-associations which indicate the nature of his interests and his broad humanitarianism. His fraternal relations are with Monitor Lodge, .A. F. & A. M., and the local lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. . \ glance at his business career will indicate the consecutive progress which has characterized his life work.

JOHN M. BLACKBURN.

In a history of commercial activity in Elgin it is imperative that mention be made of John M. Blackburn, else the record would be incomplete, for he today occupies a position of executive control in connection with one of the leading industries of the city, being secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Elgin Silver Plate Company. He started on the journey of life in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 29th of January, 1858, his parents being Joseph Martin and Elizabeth Ann (Walls) Blackburn. The father was born at Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, while the mother's birth occurred in Leeds. They were married in the land of their nativity but soon afterward sailed for the new world and became residents of Cleveland, Ohio, about 1848. There they spent their remaining days, the father engaging in business as an archi- tect and builder. erecting many buildings there. Unto him and his wife were born five children : Elizabeth Ann, the wife of George G. Roe, who is living at Westport. New York: Mary Bennett, who is the widow of Charles B. Clough and a resident of New York city; Jessie Bennett, who is the widow of Dr. John Gilbert, of Cleveland: Henrietta, the deceased wife of J. HI. Deckand ; and John M.

The last named spent the first twenty years of his life in the city of his nativity, where he pursued his education in the public and preparatory schools. He afterward went to Meriden. Connecticut, and entered the silver plate works, being first employed in the office of the Meriden Britannia Company, with whom he was connected at intervals until 1890. He went from Con- nectient to Toronto, Canada, where from 1884 until 1888 he conducted a factory which he established for the Meriden Silver Plate Company. In 1890 he made his way westward to Chicago and organized the present company. although it was then conducted under the style of the Griffin Silver Plate Company of Chicago. In 1892 the present factory was built and the firm name was changed to the Elgin Silver Plate Company. Mr. Blackburn is the secretary, treasurer and general manager and therefore the chief executive officer. The industry is an important one, employing from one hundred and fifty to two hundred workmen in the manufacture of casket and coffin hard- ware and trimmings. The house has become well known to the trade and

KANE COUNTY HISTORY

the sales have increased annually until the business is today a very extensive and profitable one. It has been built up along safe, conservative lines and yet has been characterized by the most progressive spirit.

In 1880 Mr. Blackburn was married to Miss Bessie Sharp, who was born in Milford. Delaware, April 6, 1860, and is a daughter of Samuel and Eliza- beth ( Watson) Sharp. Four children have been born of this marriage : Joseph Samuel, now in California ; Guy W., who is connected with the Inter- national Nickel Company, of Copper Cliff, Ontario; Paul and Ralph, twins, who are now students in the engineering department of the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

In politics Mr. Blackburn has been a stalwart republican since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise. In community affairs he has been active, influential and helpful. He has served on the board of education in Elgin for six years and was one of the board of trustees of the Elgin Academy. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He has served on the public library board for three years and was president part of the time, and he has also done effective work during three years' service as park commissioner. He is a member of the Country Club and of the Century Club, while fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of the Globe and the American Legion of Honor. There has been nothing sensational in his career, every step has been thought- fully and deliberately made and every advance has been at the cost of earnest and self-denying labor. In manner he is kind, unaffected and approachable, and every comer has a claim upon his courteous attention.

THOMAS E. ROCHE.

Among the young men who are rapidly pushing their way to the front by reason of qualities which are always recognized as forceful factors in the business world, is numbered Thomas E. Roche, funeral director and embalmer of Elgin. He was born August 14. 1882, in South Elgin, and is a son of Michael and Ellen (Jordan) Roche. The father was born in Ireland in 1837 and when about eighteen years of age came to the United States, finally establishing his home at South Elgin in 1862. There he remained contin- uously until his death, which occurred in 1906, while his widow, who bore the maiden name of Ellen Jordan and was born in 1841, is still living in South Elgin.

At the usual age Thomas E. Roche was sent as a pupil to the public schools of his native city and later attended St. Mary's Academy of Elgin. from which he was graduated in the class of 1902. He also attended Barnes School of Anatomy, Sanitary Science & Embalming, pursuing his studies in Chicago, where he was graduated in 1905. Under the same management there is conducted a similar institution in New York city. Mr. Roche pur- sued his course, however, in the western city and before his graduation entered business as an undertaker, embalmer and funeral director of Elgin in

KANE COUNTY HISTORY

1904. He obtained a certificate from the board of health in 1905 and has annually thereafter been thus qualified for his chosen work. He now com- mands a fine business and i- meeting with success in his chosen field of labor. On the 9th of February, 1906. Mr. Roche was married to Miss Gertrude Buel, a daughter of Conrad N. and Lydia ( Collins ) Buel. of Elgin. This marriage has been blessed with one son, James M .. who was born on the 16th of December, 1966. Mr. Roche votes with the republican party but is not active as a worker in its ranks. He belongs to the Roman Catholic church. is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and of the Ancient Order of Hilerians and the Court of Honor. He is well known in the city which is -till his home, having always resided in this locality, and the fact that many of his stanebest friends are numbered among those who have known him from his Loyhead to the present is an indication that his has been an honorable and straightforward career.

GEORGE S. BOWEN.

Few men pass from life amid such a uniform feeling of deep regret as was manifest in Elgin when George Stephen Bowen was called from this life. For seventy-five years he had been an active factor in the world and though he never gained national prominence or distinction in the community where he lived, he exerted a widely felt influence in behalf of all those things which tend to uplift mankind and bring the individual nearer to an ideal in citizenship and in his relations with his fellow men. Both Chicago and Elgin are indebted to Mr. Bowen for his initiative spirit and active cooperation in promoting many works of public improvement.

A native of New York. Mr. Bowen was born at Ingham Mills. Manheim. Herkimer county. November 30. 1829. He pursued his education in the jublie schools to the age of fourteen years and then started out to make his own way in the world. Whatever success he achieved was attributable to his own efforts, and while he succeeded in gaining a comfortable competence. he was still richer in the trust and respect of those with whom he was asso- ciated. After gaining valuable business information in the store and office at Little Falls, New York, he left that place in 1849 and made his way westward to Chicago. The western metropolis was then just emerging from villagehoed and giving some promise of the future growth and development which was to make it one of the wonders of the world. As the city expanded he kept pace with its marvelous growth in his business undertakings and was associated most of the time with his brothers in business pursuits until the great conflagration of 1871. when the firm lost several millions of dollars. In the meantime Mr. Bowen had been very active in promoting interests of public benefit, realizing the fact that the city was making rapid strides and that it was destined to still greater growth, he labored to meet the demands that would come upon it as a city.

KANE COUNTY HISTORY

In 1861 he was chosen president of the Young Men's Library Association of Chicago. the forerunner of the great public library of the city. It was largely through his efforts that the latter institution was developed from the former, yet he has never been given due credit for his labors in this behalf. After his removal to Elgin the question arose as to making the Young Men's Christian Association the custodian and manager of the Chicago library. Mr. Bowen fought this move successfully. He believed that all the taxpayers should be represented and that the public library should be a perfectly free institution to all who desire the benefit of the opportunities it affords. His name should certainly have been inscribed upon the tablet in the Chicago library, which was placed there to honor the early founders and promoters. Mr. Bowen was also one of the first to promote the Chicago park system, and in fact it was he who called a meeting to discuss the matter of establishing a park-a meeting that resulted in securing a tract of land that has since been converted into South Park. In 1867 he was also instrumental in organizing the Woolen Manufacturers' Association of the Northwest, being its first and only president.

In 1873 Mr. Bowen took the lead in raising the money with which to build the Chicago Exposition, and in 1879 he organized an Industrial Expo- sition of ninety-three ladies and gentlemen, who visited Mexico in the interest of reciprocity. Through his invitation the previous year, Sr. Manuel de Zamacona, the Mexican minister, visited Chicago and Elgin, paying especial attention to the Elgin National Watch factory, with whose operations he was greatly delighted. This visit, and also the visit of the Americans to Mexico. resulted in much benefit to trade interests. At a banquet held in Chicago, in 1878, given by Mr. Bowen at the Palmer House the 23d of May, the founda- tion was laid for the organization of the Manufacturers' Association of Chicago.

Following the great fire of 1871, Mr. Bowen established his residence in Elgin, where he continued to make his home until his demise. While closely associated with the interests of Chicago, he also labored untiringly and effectively for the advancement of Elgin's welfare and in 1872 and 1873 repre- sented the city as its mayor. Ten years later the Elgin Electric Light Com- pany, of which he was the president, installed the electric light plant of this city and on the 24th of November of that year, at a banquet held in the Nolting House. Elgin was declared to be the best lighted city on this conti- nent. The city, at the termination of his contract, purchased the plant.

The Elgin Board of Trade owes its existence to Mr. Bowen, who in association with Dr. Joseph Tefft, Dr. R. R. Stone and others organized the board. He made the opening address. As the result of a call which he issued. representatives of electric light interests of the United States met in Chicago on the 18th of February, 1885, and organized the National Electric Light Association, of which he was made an honorary member in 1890. He was one of the principal organizers and builders of the Chicago & Pacific Railway, now a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system. Not long prior to his death he was chosen president of the North Pacific Trading Com- pany, with offices in Chicago and Tokio, Japan. The Elgin public library

KANE COUNTY HISTORY

found in him one of its warmest friends and he also served as president of the Elgin Scientific Society.

Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Bowen was married in Salis- bury Center. Herkimer county. New York, to Julia Emma Byington and they had a son and daughter, George E. Bowen and Mrs. Anna C. Byington, both residents of Elgin. A happy married life of more than forty years was termi- nated in the death of Mr. Bowen in Elgin in January, 1905. He had passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey. His entire career was one of intense and well directed activity. Free from selfish motives and actuated at all times by a spirit of unfaltering devotion to the public good. He labored while others discussed the situation and accomplished results while they were still formulating plans. He looked upon life with a full understanding of its obligations and responsibilities and he met every trust reposed in him with a singleness of purpose that none questioned. His fellow townsmen, aside from his public work, had the highest regard for his personal character, for wher- ever he was known he commanded the unqualified confidence and respect of those with whom he was associated. Elgin has reason to honor his name and in this city his memory is sacredly cherished.

PIERCE BURTON.

Pierce Burton was born in Norwich, Vermont, December 24, 1834. His father was William Smith Burton, who was a merchant. He was born in Nor- wich. April 7, 1795, the son of Pierce and Phebe ( Stoddard) Burton. Pierce, the grandfather, was the son of Stephen and Hannah ( Pierce) Burton, born November 1, 1761. Hannah Pierce was from Canterbury. Connecticut. Stephen was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of John Burton, who was granted land in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1638. The mother of Pierce, the subject of this sketch, was Nancy Russell, born in Northampton, Massachusetts, July 29, 1796. Her father's name was Seth Russell, the son of Hezekiah Russell, who was a lieutenant in the American army during the Revolutionary war. His line runs through several generations to a John Russell, who came from England in 1635. Nancy Russell's mother was Mary Emerson. Her genealogical record is given in a large book entitled "Emerson Genealogy," from which it appears that her ancestry is the same as that of the father of Ralph Waldo Emerson. One has only to go back a little in his ancestral record to find that in the sixth generation back he has one hundred and twenty-eight ancestors, not to mention those intervening. As far as known all of Mr. Burton's early ancestors were of English origin and came over to this country between 1620 and 1640. and were Puritans or Pilgrims, including several clergymen.

For his first wife Mr. Burton married Ellen G. Lapham, of Adams, Mas- sachusetts, January 11, 1860. Her ancestry extends back to Governor Brad- ford, of Massachusetts, and several other passengers in the Mayflower, and includes John AAlden and Priscilla. They had one child. Charles Pierce, born

yams truly Prince Burton

KANE COUNTY HISTORY

at Anderson, Indiana, March 7, 1862, whose mother died January 13, 1863. For his second wife he married, December 25, 1873, Maria Alice Sibley, daughter of Gideon and Martha ( Carpenter) Sibley, of Athol, Massachusetts. Her ancestors on both sides were of old Revolutionary stock. Thirteen of the Sibley family were in the battle of Bunker Hill. One of her mother's ances- tors was with Ethan Allen at the surrender of Ticonderoga; two others were in the battle of Saratoga, and tradition tells of others in other battles. Two children, Claribel Daisy and Ralph William, were born in Aurora, Illinois, to Mr. and Mrs. Burton. Mr. Burton has three grandchildren, children of his oldest son, Charles Pierce Burton and Cora (Vreeland) Burton. Charles Pierce Burton, the son, is author of "The Bashful Man and Others," a col- lection of light essays, and of "The Boys of Bob's Hill," "The Bob's Cave Boys," and other stories.

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History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II, Part 1

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 958

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 958